PFAS – Challenges in risk assessment

A look back: A scientific conference attended by international experts was dedicated to the topic of ‘PFAS in health risk assessment’ from 8 to 10 October 2025 at the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment in Berlin-Marienfelde. The conference focused on topics such as “detection methods”, “exposure assessment” (i.e. the question of how many PFAS people are exposed to), “research on behavior in humans”, “legal regulation of PFAS”, and research into possible health effects. The conference concluded with a panel discussion on the challenges and advances in assessing the human health risk assessment of PFAS.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of industrial compounds. Due to their properties, they are used in numerous industrial processes, technical applications and consumer products. Also known as “forever chemicals”, PFAS are persistent and can be detected widely in the environment, the food chain and in humans. The risk of health impairments caused by these substances is being intensively researched. A number of PFAS have already been regulated by law due to their negative impact on health and the environment, and further regulatory measures are in the process of being developed.

You can find more information here: External Link:https://www.bfr.bund.de/en/food-safety/assessment-of-substance-risks-in-foods/health-assessment-of-contaminants-in-food/environmental-contaminants/poly-and-perfluoralkyl-substances-pfas/pfc/